Multifeed circular knitting machine

ABSTRACT

To permit knitting different patterns, for example, with the same color scheme, or fabric pattern, but of different configuration such as front panels of sweaters or the like, Jacquard selectors, such as selector drums, have pattern selectors placed thereon corresponding to the different patterns, and the drums are indexed more than once for each revolution of the machine. The pattern selectors, such as selector jacks, to operate selector plates on the machine, are placed such that the first jacks for the first pattern are placed on a first position of the respective selector drums; the first jack of a second and the subsequent patterns are then placed in the first position of the first drum of a subsequent group, and so on; the second jacks of the first pattern are then placed in the next subsequent positions, respectively, and then the second jacks of the subsequent patterns are placed in the next subsequent positions, and so on, so that indexing of the drums during a portion only of the revolution of the machine will present different pattern selectors to the selector plates, for knitting of different patterns.

1451 Feb. 11, 1975 15 1 MULTIFEED CIRCULAR KNITTING- MACHINE [75]Inventor: Falk Kiihn, Kiebingen, Germany [73] Assignee: FirmaFouquet-Werk Frauz & Planck, Rottenburg, Germany [22] Filed: Sept. 7,1972 [21] Appl. No.: 287,053

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 9', 1971 Germany 2145121[52] US. Cl. 66/50 B, 66/17] [51] Int. Cl. D04b 9/38, D04b 15/74 [58]Field of Search 66/50 B, 42, 25, 171, 180

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,969,853 8/l934 Page 66/50B 2,179,711 11/1939 Bromley et a1... 66/50 B 2,808,712 10/1957 Morris66/50 B 2,842,946 7/1958 Butler... 66/156 3,007,327 ll/196l lsley 66/1773,184,929 5/1965 Reymes-Cole 66/50 B 3,205,683 9/1965 Coile 66/50 B3,289,437 12/1966 Mahler 66/50 B 3,630,050 12/1971 Guresh et al. 66/50 BFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 228,917 3/1926 Great Britain... 66/171996,291 6/1965 Great Britain 66/50 B OTHER PUBLICATIONS William E.Shinn, Principles of Knitting, Volume 11,

Lancashire, Knitting Times Yearbook, 4/29/71, Vol. 40, No. 18, pp.'86 to87.

Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flynn &Frishauf [57] ABSTRACT To permit knitting different patterns, for,example drums, have pattern selectors placed thereon corre-.

sponding to the different patterns, and the drums are indexed more thanonce for each revolution of the machine. The pattern selectors, such asselector jacks,

to operate selector plates on the machine, are placed such that thefirst jacks for the first pattern are placed on a first position of therespective selector drums; the first jack of a second and the subsequentpatterns are then placed in the first position of the first drum of asubsequent group, and so on; the second jacks of the first pattern arethen placed in the next subsequent positions, respectively, and then thesecond jacks of the subsequent patterns are placed in the nextsubsequent positions, and so on, so that indexing of the drums during aportion only of the revolution of the machine will present differentpattern selectors to the selector plates, for knitting of differentpatterns.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBI H915 snmeur 3 PATENIEI] FEB I 1i975 sum 3 or 5 MULTIFEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE The presentinvention relates to multifeed circular knitting machines and moreparticularly to knitting machines which are of the Jacquard selectortype, particularly to knit various pattern configurations and utilizingsimilar colored thread, and to a method to knit more than one pattern,with the same color scheme during revolution of a circular knittingmachine.

Circular knitting machines having a separate Jacquard selector tocontrol the pattern arrangement of each knitting feed usually are soconstructed that the Jacquard selectors are indexed or racked by one ormore steps or indexing positions once for each revolution of themachine. This racking or indexing movement of the selector elements,typically selector drums, may be in either direction. Indexing theselector drums effects selection of the pattern for the subsequentmachine rotation of each knitting feed, while maintaining the patternpreviously selected during the rotation under consideration. Thesemachines then manufacture a tubular fabric which, as known, can providepatterns extending over the width of the machine or, depending onprogramming, provide patterns which are repeated around thecircumference of the tubular fabric, the pattern repeat depending on thediameter and number of needles of the machine. If there is to be apattern change, then the selector elements, typically selector jacksmounted on patterning drums, or selector pegs projecting therefrom, haveto be rearranged or the drums have to be exchanged, which is timeconsuming particularly if only a portion of the pattern being knitted bythe machine is to be changed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine and aknitting method which simplifies the step of pattern selection, and moreparticularly to obtain tubular fabric which has the same color scheme orcolor content and fabric type or pattern, which permits the knitting ofpatterns of different aspects while providing for simple operation ofthe machine and programming of the pattern selector mechanism.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly, the circular knittingmachine is provided with patterning arrangements or devices, typicallypatterning drums having selector jacks or selector pegs thereon, andthese patterning devices are, selectively, indexed or racked twice, ormore often, for each machine revolution. As a result, selectively,patterns will be made which will have the same color and fabric typedistribution but which will be different in the pattern and appearance,the patterns having desired, predetermined widths and appearing,adjacent each other, along the tubular fabric.

In accordance with the invention, the same machine can therefore maketwo, three or even more sections of fabric having a different patternappearance, although the type of knitting stitch and the colordistribution is the same. This is particularly important for knitting,for example, the front portions of pullovers, sweaters, or the like,which can readily be knitted in the desired eventual size. The number ofdifferent patterns that can be made in this manner will, of course,depend on the size of the sweater front portions and the machinediameter. The patterns themselves can be entirely different in theirmotif or aspect. Thus, articles which have different pattern appearancebut the same color scheme can be made simultaneously on a singlemachine, without idle time or down time with respect to patternchanging. It would, of course, be theoretically possible to knitsequentially first, several times around on the machine, a pattern oftype A; then reprogram the machine and knit a pattern of type B; andthen reprogram the machine and knit a pattern of type C. This, however,requires change of the Jacquard selectors for each pattern change. Incontrast, and in accordance with the present invention, the Jacquardpattern selectors are programmed once for all three patterns, and theprograms for all three patterns are placed on the very same selectordrums which, in accordance with the invention, are indexed or rackedmore than once for each machine revolution. If three patterns are placedon the drums, the drums will be indexed three times for each machinerevolution. During the rotation of the pattern selector drum itself,three pattern change points will be formed on the fabric which are aboutone to two needles wide, which pattern transfer marks can then readilybe used as a indication line to cut the tubular fabric, longitudinally,when making the sweaters and assembling the sweater portions together.

If, for example, single color or multicolor fabric patterns are knitted,and the pattern change indications are not desired, then the patternchange, that is, the indexing movement, can be so arranged with respectto machine rotation that it occurs at a time when cylinder needles arenot knitting and only the dial 'needles knit.

The invention will be described way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 6 are highly schematic illustrations showing different typesof combinations to distribute the patterns along the machinecircumference;

FIG. 7 is a highly schematic top view of Jacquard selector drums, andtheir arrangement around the circumference of a circular knittingmachine;

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of a Jacquard selector drum withthe associated selector mechanism, and showing an indexing arrangementtherefor; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a modified attachment arrangement forcamming elements on the indexing arrangement.

Considering first FIG. 8: a Jacquard selector drum 1, is held in aholder 2, as well known in the art. The drum has selector jacks locatedalong the circumference thereof. The selector jacks have projectingbutts 3; drums with pegs or other arrangements may also be used. Thebutts 3 engage selector plates 4 which engage butts on selector jacks(not shown) projecting from the knitting machine cylinder structure tocontrol projection of the cylinder needles or to inhibit projection, ifeither a butt 3 is absent or another butt on the jack of the knittingmachine cylinder itself has been broken out. This method of controllingneedles is well-known, and reference may be had to the later referred toliterature references, and, for example, to US. application Ser. No.246,651 filed Apr. 24, 1972 and assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention.

To index or rack drum 1, the machine has a ring 135 on which one or morecam rings 129, are located. These cam rings rotate with the machine. Thecam rings 129, 130 have elevated cam 131, 132 mounted thereon, the camsengaging a cam follower 128 mounted on a shaft 136 which, in turn, ismounted on one end of a lever arm 127, pivoted about a pivot point 137.Lever arm 127, upon being lifted by engagement of cam follower 128 withcam rise 132, releases a latch lever 122 which, by means of a spring,can pivot counterclockwise about a vertical axis 122'. Lever 122 has aratchet arm 145 connected thereto, movable about a pivot axis 146 (shownschematically). Ratchet arm 145 engages a ratchet wheel 106 to push theratchet wheel and rack drum 1 by one or more teeth, corresponding to oneor more index positions, depending on the position of the arm 145. Thepin 136 with cam follower roller 128 is so made that it can be reversedand inserted backwards in a suitable opening in link 127 so that theroller 128 may selectively engage cam element 131 or 132.

The position of the cam follower roller 28 and relative movement of thecam rings 129, 130 will depend on the pattern.

Referring now to FIGS. l-6: FIG. 1 illustrates division of the patterninto pattern or repeat fields A and B. These pattern fields A, B arecontrolled by earns 30, 31. Cams 30, 31 are similar to cams 132 for thepattern of FIG. 1, two such cams 132 would be mounted, spaced 180 aroundthe circumference of ring 130, as schematically indicated in FIG. 1. Oneof the cams is shown in full line position, for example, the camcorresponding to a zero or datum position of the machine, and the othercam 31 is shown open illustrating the division into an auxiliary field.FIG. 2 shows the different arrangement in which one field is three timesthe size of the other, the cams being offset by 90 with respect tomachine circumference; FIG. 3 shows an offset of the cams by 135; FIG. 4shows the division into three equal fields A. B, C. Three cams 30, 31,32, each similar to cum 132 (FIG. 8) are spaced 180 from each otheraround the circumference ring 130. FIG. 5 illustrates an unequaldivision with spacing of the cams 90 and 90 apart from each other(leaving 180 from the remaining pattern); and FIG. 6 illustratesdivision of a circular knitting machine into four pattern fields A, B,C, D, the cams 30-33 being spaced from each other by 90 each. Ingeneral, as seen in FIGS. l-6, the division is l/n X 360, where n is aninteger of 2, 3 or 4. The cams can be selectively placed on ring 130which, preferably, are formed with pre-drilled holes to secure cams 132by screws 132' at selected circumferential positions of the rings 129.If infinitely variable adjustment of cam 132 is desired, then elongatedT-shaped slots 170 can be cut in rings 129, 130, and screws 132 with ahead 132", inserted from below to permit selected location of cams 132at any desired circumferential position on the ring 130. Suchadjustment, for example, within a certain angular extent, permitsinfinitely continuously adjustable change of the pattern field.

FIG. 7 illustrates the initial position of the cams 132 with respect tothe associated pattern groups A, B, C, if three patterns are to beknitted (FIG. 4) with equally distributed pattern repeats. To be able tomake three differently arranged pattern schemes having, however, thesame fabric type and the same color distribution, that is, multicoloredJacquard patterns or Jacquard transfer patterns, the selector butts 3(or equivalent pegs or other devices) of the selector jacks on the drums1 are suitably distributed around the circumference of the drum 1. Forease of programming, the machine circumference is subdivided intocorresponding pattern selection sectors. Each pattern selection sectoris then associated with one of the switching cams 132, that is, withearns 30, 31, 32 (FIGS. 4, 7). The position of the switching cams 132(FIG. 8), corresponding to cams 30, 31, 32, FIG. 7, with respect to theselector drum 1 will determine the width of the pattern repeat orpattern fields.

Let cam 30 (FIG. 7) be given the designation as main or start switchingcam. Cam 30, as main cam, then starts patterning by switching drum 1 ofthe group A,

and the subsequent drums, having a first pattern jack for eachsubsequent drum (l-24 for a 24 feed machine) located at the first, ordatum or index positions. FIG. 7 shows, schematifally, 6 pattern jacksper drum. As the cam 31, 32 sequentially impinge on the drum 1, andsubsequently on drums 2-24, the drums will be switched to the nextpattern B, C, respectively. In the example given, the 24 patternselector drums are alternately acting for each pattern. The selectorjacks in slot (or position) Number 1 & 4, control the Jacquard design ofpattern A; the jacks in position Number 2 & 5, control the Jacquarddesign of pattern B; the jacks in position 3 & 6 control the Jacquarddesign of pattern C. The jacks associated with patterning A, B and Chave been given similar identification letters.

In order to knit three different patterns A, B, C, in accordance withFIG. 7, three different programs, that is, three different sets ofselector jacks with selector butts 3 (or equivalent pegs or the like)are so set into the drums l-24 that the selector jack 26A (FIG. 7) andforming the first jack of pattern A is set at the datum position, forexample, in drum 1 and in drums.2-8; the firstjack 26B associated withthe second pattern, (pattern B) is then set in the next position of drumnumber 1 and the first jack 26C for the pattern C is set in the thirdposition of drum number 1. The pattern jacks of the three pattern sets(A, B, C) are so set in the drums that they are inserted, according topattern, in the sequence A, B, C; A, B, C, etc. Each pattern drum isindexed or racked three times for each machine revolution, thus formingthree repeat patterns. Since six positions for each drum are shown, thepattern drums 124 will revolve ohce for each two machine revolutions;the jacks which control patterning for the second revolution have beenindicated by prime numbers.

Cam 31 controls the second indexing or racking of the pattern drums;thus, jack 278 will be at the index position of drums l7 and jack 28C atthe index position of drum 9. The jacks for the other patterns areplaced sequentially as shown at 27C, 27A, 27B, 27C, 27A; and 28A, 28B,28C, 28A, 288.

The position of a datum point of the indexing drum and the knittingmachine, such as a given circumferential line associated with specificbutts, and schematically indicated in FIG. 8 at 1', can be varied withrespect to the camming system of the machine by shifting the cams 132,either by locating screw 132' in other pre-drilled holes, or byproviding for infinitely variable adjustment by means of slots, aspreviously explained; additionally, or alternatively, the position ofthe rings 129, may be made adjustable with respect to the machinecylinder and dial, so that the specific location of the cams both withrespect to the machine as well as with respect to the Jacquardcontroller drum 1 is adjustable.

The selector jacks with their butts 3 are, preferably, so set that theywill control those cylinder needles to miss which pass by the jacks asthe drums index, so

that, during indexing, only the dial needles of the machine will knit.At least a single needle, preferably, is thus disabled from knitting onthe cylinder, to provide a separating wale along the fabric to form aneasy indication for separation of the fabric into individual patternedfields. Various changes and modifications may be made within theinvention concept.

The detailed specification is directed to that portion of the machine inwhich the apparatus of the present invention is incorporated and withwhich the method of the present invention is useful. For a completediscussion of knitting machines, reference may be had to Double KnitFabric Manual, 1961, Knitting Dictionary, 1966, Knitting Encyclopedia,1972, published by the National Knitted Outerwear Association;Technologie der Rundstrickerei by Albert Diebler, Konradin-Verlag,Stuttgart, particularly vols. 9, l0 and 11; MELLIAND TEXTILBERICHTE,"Heidelberg, particularly Vol. 42, issue 12, 1961, pages l,363l,370; thevarious operating and programming instruction books published inconnection with sale of the machines referred to in the foregoingpublications; U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,169,801; 2,697,336; and British Pat. Nos.874,719 (which discloses a system to control the dial needles), and996,291. Well-known parts of knitting machines are described in thesereferences; the cooperation of the apparatus of the present inventionwith known parts and elements of knitting machines, and application ofthe invention to other machines and operating elements thereof, will beobvious.

I claim:

1. Multifeed circular knitting machine to knit a plurality of n discretepatterns (A, B, C) located alongside each other on the knit fabric tubehaving a plurality of pattern drums (1-24) located around thecircumference of the machine and having, each, a datum point;

pat-tern selector means (3) located on the circumference of the drumwith respect to said datum; racking means (106, 145, 146) to index thepattern drums;

and cam means (131, 132) engaging the racking means to cause indexing ofthe drums by a predetermined amount;

the improvement wherein said cam means comprises a plurality of cammingelements selectively located around the circumference of the machine andbeing formed to permit clamping of the camming elements at infinitelycontinuously adjustable circumferential positions with respect to thecylinder of the machine to adjust the position of the camming surfacesthereof with respect to any specific cylinder needle to index the drumsmore than once for each machine revolution to permit knitting of fabrichaving a plurality of different pattern arrangements appearing on thefabric in predetermined widths and adjacent each other, the drums areassociated in sequentially positioned n groups (1-8; 9-16; 17-24), firstpattern selector means controlling a first pattern (A) being placed,starting from said datum, in first positions (26A) of a first group 1-8)of drums and subsequent pattern selector means controlling furtherpatterns (B, C) being placed on sequential positions (26B, 26C) on thedrums of the first group (1-8) of drums, the first pattern selectormeans (27B, 28C) for each different pattern (B, C) being placed,starting from said datum, in respective first positions of subsequentgroups (9-16; 17-24) of the drums, so that any drum has placed thereonin sequential, adjacent positions (26A, 26B, 26C; 27B, 27C, 27A; 28C,28A, 28B, 28C, 28A, 28B) selector means controlling respectivesequential knitted patterns (A, B, C). v 2. Machine according to claim 1wherein the camming elements are located around the circumference of themachine at locations spaced by l/n X 360, wherein n is an integer of 2,3, or 4.

3. Machine according to claim 1, having at least one racking controlring (129, rotating in synchronism with machine rotation;

wherein said ring (129, 130) and said camming elements are relativelyformed to permit clamping of the camming elements on the rings atinfinitely continuously adjustable circumferential positions.

4. Machine according to claim 3 wherein the racking control ring (129,130) is formed with elongated slots,

and screws (132) are provided passing through theslots and engaging thecamming elements to clamp the camming elements, said infinitelycontinuously adjustable positions on said rings.

1. Multifeed circular knitting machine to knit a plurality of n discretepatterns (A, B, C) located alongside each other on the knit fabric tubehaving a plurality of pattern drums (1-24) located around thecircumference of the machine and having, each, a datum point; patternselector means (3) located on the circumference of the drum with respectto said datum; racking means (106, 145, 146) to index the pattern drums;and cam means (131, 132) engaging the racking means to cause indexing ofthe drums by a predetermined amount; the improvement wherein said cammeans comprises a plurality of camming elements selectively locatedaround the circumference of the machine and being formed to permitclamping of the camming elements at infinitely continuously adjustablecircumferential positions with respect to the cylinder of the machine toadjust the position of the camming surfaces thereof with respect to anyspecific cylinder needle to index the drums more than once for eachmachine revolution to permit knitting of fabric having a plurality ofdifferent pattern arrangements appearing on the fabric in predeterminedwidths and adjacent each other, the drums are associated in sequentiallypositioned n groups (1-8; 9-16; 17-24), first pattern selector meanscontrolling a first pattern (A) being placed, starting from said datum,in first positions (26A) of a first group (1-8) of drums and subsequentpattern selector means controlling further patterns (B, C) being placedon sequential positions (26B, 26C) on the drums of the first group (1-8)of drums, the first pattern selector means (27B, 28C) for each differentpattern (B, C) being placed, starting from said datum, in respectivefirst positions of subsequent groups (916; 17-24) of the drums, so thatany drum has placed thereon in sequential, adjacent positions (26A, 26B,26C; 27B, 27C, 27A; 28C, 28A'', 28B'', 28C'', 28A, 28B) selecTor meanscontrolling respective sequential knitted patterns (A, B, C).
 2. Machineaccording to claim 1 wherein the camming elements are located around thecircumference of the machine at locations spaced by 1/n X 360*, whereinn is an integer of 2, 3, or
 4. 3. Machine according to claim 1, havingat least one racking control ring (129, 130) rotating in synchronismwith machine rotation; wherein said ring (129, 130) and said cammingelements are relatively formed to permit clamping of the cammingelements on the rings at infinitely continuously adjustablecircumferential positions.
 4. Machine according to claim 3 wherein theracking control ring (129, 130) is formed with elongated slots, andscrews (132'') are provided passing through the slots and engaging thecamming elements to clamp the camming elements, said infinitelycontinuously adjustable positions on said rings.